Yes! I fabricate every piece of jewelry by hand in my Williamsburg studio. Many pieces also incorporate stones I cut and polished myself. Occasionally I use components from Rio Grande - like delicate chain - but generally speaking I construct all elements "from scratch" using plain old wire and sheet.

Yes and no! I've taken all kinds of metalsmithing classes over the years at Pratt in Seattle and at VisArts in Richmond, but I've also figured out how to do some things on my own, either by trial and error or with a little help from some amazing YouTube jewelers and a few good ol' fashioned books on the subject.

I only use solid or gold-filled metals (gold fill is coated with a significantly thicker layer of gold than plated metals are). I also hallmark all of my pieces and notate what materials were used in every product listing.

I never use dyed gemstones - all the materials I source are natural. I do have a a few heat-treated stones in my inventory that I may occasionally use, but, unlike dyed gemstones, their color is permanently color-stable. The only other possible treatment is stabilization, which is sometimes needed for soft and porous stones like turquoise! In fact, upwards of 90-95% of turquoise on the market is said to be stabilized. While some turquoise is sufficiently hard enough not to need it, most is simply too brittle and soft to endure the rigors of cutting and jewelry use without it. Stabilization can also help to preserve the natural color of the material. Soft and porous stones that are exposed to dirt and skin oils over time can darken and yellow as they absorb these substances, and many of the resins used to stabilize gemstones today have anti-yellowing and UV-protective properties.

Unfortunately I'm currently unable to take custom orders, as I simply don't have the time that this type of work demands. I'm sorry!

I do not recommend it! While, yes, artisanal jewelry is carefully constructed of high-quality material and made to last, it is still fragile and vulnerable to damage from abrasive elements, excessive sun exposure, and to breakage from vigorous activity. So I recommend that you always treat your jewelry with gentle care and avoid damage risks as much as possible. Store it in a cool, dry, protected place, away from the sun, and away from chemicals and other corrosive substances.

Polish pads or polishing cloths designed for jewelry are ideal. If your pieces have stamped or otherwise indented areas filled with patina, be careful not to push the polishing cloth into those areas, unless you want to wipe away the patina.